Titan Skalli Review

Introduction:

When it comes to cooling your hot new quad core processor the stock heatsink just won't do now, will it? As seen countless times the stock cooling solutions just do not have the capability of keeping a processor in a temperature range that is what we as enthusiast consider, “safe”, even though millions of these little wonders of the silicon age are running with stock heatsinks, in cramped, less than adequately ventilated cases, stuffed in a cabinet under a desk. Well, they still run and who knows how much horsepower is lost running with the processer throttling while updating a facebook page? To keep that little gem cool you need a heatsink that can keep the temperature down while still meeting the noise requirements of the masses.

The Titan Skalli is a way to decrease the temperature as well as drop the noise. The Skalli is a tower style heatsink that uses two large 8mm heatpipes to direct the thermal energy to the fin array where the fan pushes air through it to keep the CPU cool. It does this in a package size that is not altogether unrealistic. While heatpipes are not new and neither are heatpipe direct contact coolers, it’s the size of the heatpipes and the amount of pipes used. With only two heatpipes will the Skalli stand up to the pressure, or will it languish in mediocrity? Let's find out.

Closer Look:

The Skalli comes in a retail box that goes out of its way to let you know as much as possible about it. The front panel is open to show off the heatsink and fan used . The sides and rear panel are filled with information on the cooler from the fan specifications, to the HDC technology and the 10cm PWM controlled fan.

Pop the box open and you are greeted with the Skalli packed in a protective clamshell to keep it all in one piece during transit. Included with the Skalli is the instruction manual and the mounting hardware for alternate sockets as this cooler is natively set for socket 1156. Socket 775, AMD Socket AM2/3 hardware is included as well.

Let's see if this representation of a Norse mythological entity is the strong silent type or howls like the wind!